New computer??

Ive had my computer(XP) for a few years now and has been running slow for a while..I re-instal XP and that seems to work for a time but last week it got a virus - Trojan horse Generic 28.AUQH which AVG could not remove......So I reformated the hard drive and re-installed Windows XP.
Now it is even slower and freezes sometimes taking 10 mins to load a page.......

Time for a new computer?
I dont play games, so would be used for brousing the internet and emails, and storage for many photos.

Was thinking about spending £400-500

Does this seem a good buy?
Cheers for any help....
http://www.novatech.co.uk/pc/range/novatechlifenti05.html

That's a good budget I'll find what id get sounds like your hard drive is on its way out on the other one a 30quid spend could keep it going a bot longer

Hi Gary, Simon seems to be the computer geek on here, maybe he could advise you :yesnod:

Are you still coming to the BBQ ??
xxx

Before you shell out a fistful of cash try this, download a copy of "Puppy Linux" write it to cd. shut down your computer set the bios to boot from CD and reboot with the Linux disk in the machine. Have a play with the Linux system and see if your computer is behaving as it used too, I.E. quicker. If you decide the computer is still ok, shut down, remove the disc, reboot Winslows and sort out the software. If no improvement possible, buy new machine.

Good tip I use linux too and no probs ever

As its XP i'd recommend replacement instead of Repair
From your list of requirements you budget is quite generous. Sticking with Novatech and using for photo's, internet and email i'd go for this one http://www.novatech.co.uk/pc/range/gammav3.html instead.

Do you use any OBD software under Linux Ben. I use OBDAutodoctor and it works well but would be interested to see what others are using.
Dave

Sue is an IT geek and we build our own pc's. One thing you could try in the meantime before you replace is to check and see if any hidden apps are running when you boot up: this slows things down considerably as they take up memory nder the surface.
For 500 quid you could build a kickass machine from components if you know anyone local who does this: if you are not too far from Leics we could assist.

Thank you all for the help, very much appreciated..
Ben, thats a good point about hard drive (maybe) being the problem..Could this be?

System Information below...does this give any clue?

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Activation Status Activation Pending (27 days remaining)
System Name GARY
System Manufacturer Unknown
System Model 00000000000000000000000
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3006 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3006 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG, 12/11/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.2
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\System32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)"
User Name GARY\Gary Troman
Time Zone GMT Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.53 GB
Total Virtual Memory 5.85 GB
Available Virtual Memory 5.17 GB
Page File Space 3.85 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Have you got XP SP3 installed. Your build number looks like its not. should say 5.1.2600.5512

With due respect, if all you are using the computer for is internet browsing, emails and storing photos, do you really need the big box in the corner, have you considered getting an ipad instead.......it will do everything you want it to, will let you look at it wherever you are in the house, no more sitting in a darkened room on your own etc......

If email and storing photos is all you do then XP should work fine. First thing I would do is to install Service Pack 3. You may have to install Service Packs one and two first. Then I would go to windows/run/ and type in msconfig. When msconfig runs go to the startup tab and untick every box except your anti virus software.

If you do not have any up to date antivirus software then install some ASAP.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials on all the Windows PCs in my house. This can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com and is free but will only install on Legit copies of windows.

When you reboot XP it should run much faster.